Wichita eagle., 1887-01-18

from his forehead and think q tear from
his honest Irish eye. The frightened
Chinese clustered around US and the de-
Ginning day began to throw soft pail of
shadows over the scene of death. And
the rushing river sang shrilly over its
rocks, "Too latel too later while the
great swell of the forest organ moaned:
"Gone homei gone homer
a litter of poles was constructed, and
the poor bruised face yelled with q cloth,
and slowly up the trail, borne by the will
ing arms OF his rough friends, BILLY
Hitchins came for the last time to
the camp. A conittee was appointed
by the justice to take charge CT
his cabin, and when the cortege. swelled
by all the male Inhabitants OF tne ridge.
reached the plaza the darkness of night
was upon US. The Justices Office was
considered the fittest place for temporary
rest, and there the poor lads last night
above ground was passed II was noticed
as an evidence of nice discrimination that
the Blue Wing had closed its doors and
decent whisper conveyed TO the less guile
less portion Of the community that the
Arcade would deal Nc game for the first
time in five years. The absence of Jack
teatherbridge, the dealer, would have
necessitated their suspension, as it was al
ready known that Jack was five miles
away on his ride TO Nevada after ParsOn
Cleveland, remarking that ''if coin would
fetch the preacher he'd have him on the
first deal. " The time made by 'EKickfng
Kate" Jacks mare, on this occasion
stands yet unequaled, and is explained
by his calm desire sito do poor Billy
proud. At the mass meeting presided
over by Col. Howard q series OF resolu-
tons, passed mem. con, were prepared and
neatly engr0ssed By Ned Gaylord for trans
mission 10 the absent and aged mother
whose only boy had cleaned up his
last ground sluice." 1t was unanimously
resolved to do the square thing by Billy,
and committee Of three. with power,
was designated 10 take charge Of the con-
siderable effects and prepare to send the
Offering grains, for which he gave his
life, 10 the mother he toiied for.
There was much decent emulation as
10 the preparations for the funeral It
was decided the best the camp could do
was not good l0ugh for Billy. Already
on the hillside, where the manzanitas
were the handsomest and few live oaks
cl Istered in simple grace near a giant
sugar pine. q SPOT was selected for the
grave, as remote as possible from all
contingency Of further auriferous re-
search
The delicate question of writing to his
mother was unanimously left to the three
married ladies of the camp, and [ am
sure that tender tears fell that night over
the little bundle of mothers letters and
family relics handed, with his best Vir-
ginia bow and a slight clearing Of the
throat, to them by Col Howard Poor
old COLONEL 1t is to be hoped that some
kindly woman cheered the last hours of
your gallant boy, Chandler Howard, who
tried to get inside Of Hancock's lines at
Gettysburg in the later then unborn,
years. With the remnants of Pickett's
division he did not go back, but lay on the
stricken field, remembering his old Vir-
ginia motto: Not to GO back on any
thing"
Morning again, calm and still, and up
the wooded hill wound the little process
sion. By the open grave stood the entire
population Of the camp, and the solemn
words of Parson Cleveland fell cold and
distinct as rife shots on the stiffness Of
the bright mountain day Men listened,
moved strangely by the unfamiliar utter
ances. At the head of the grave the three
sobbing mothers gave evidence Of woman
ly sympathy and modesty At the out
skirts OF the crowd Nine CeIestine leaned
on the arm OF Jack eatherbridge, who
calmly reasoned on the new discovery OF
feeling in his fair charge, whose silent
tears attested her wondnhood in common
with her more yirtuous sisters of the
openly Acknowledged world Poor Jack,
he was just as calm three months later
when he lay on the floor Of the Magnolia
saloon at Grass Valley with five ball holes
in his breast, and family murmured,
pointing to his shapely feet, 'Bo0tsn' and
they were taken Oft, and poor Jack slept
far away from his fathers
The mournfuI ceremony achieved. the
procession was slowly Withdrawn and q
few brawny Cornish lads filed mp the
grave, which was shortly neatly inclosed.
The p2rson was solemnly dined by the
three families Col. Howard lending his
stately presence. Little knots of men dis
cusSed tho details Of the obsequies with
local pride, and it was agreed that Red
Dog. Liberty Hill, and Dutch Fiat could
not have approached the eninently salts
factory handling Of sudden and saddening
events by the people Of the camp. The
action Of the cOmmitte in donating Billy's
cabin and loose tools to the kind hearted
Chinese who assisted so handsomely IL
the Intellectual attempt at rescue was ap-
proved and Hop No, the running mes
sen ger, was an especial favorite and free
from Caucasian violence forever T'he
committee of three was DISCHARGED upon
the acknowledgements Of the English consul
OF the receipts of the estate. and the stiff
bat hearty complimentary letter was long
e pride to the Old timers. Jack Feather
bridge escorted the parson home ID
Nevada in knigktly style, and the current
Of life IL the camp ran its even way. only
broken in several months b. the receipt Of
/ tender letter from the bereavcd waiting
mother in far OF England, who begged to
thank the three kind ladies and all the
camp for their unexpected kindness.
Sailor Bill remarked as how EiIly's been
done well by. and I have reason TO know
that the words Of the thankful letter were
To Nine. Celestine, who
was strangely moved thereat, being then
iarkened in sorrow for the uureturning
Jack
To-day the camp is lost; yawning
,hasn,s show where hill and gorge have
been moved away bodily by tie giant
search for gold Of great companies: there
IS no town Of the name; the jewellers
therein are scattered and the familiar
places know the old times no more. /
Nothing left bat the memories of the
quaint old days gone forever; nothing
speaks Of the flush times: the plaza has
gone bodily into Bear river and the only
main rock structure of the cleft gorge re
mains. Farou the heights the lo1,y pines
sway and sing - light and the rJIs5iiac
leaves whisper sadly Ct the past. You
,ouId not find to-day Poor Billy Hitch
ms - grave. ana many OF TIE sectors in
lie fitIl. scene Eavc learrrll IL L1ight !